Alcoa and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) today announced they are teaming up to develop advanced aluminum alloys and other materials for  a high performance but fuel-efficient and economical passenger jet.

A prototype of the C919 single-aisle jet, which will be assembled in Shanghai and seats up to 190, went on display last month.  Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang told the Xinhua state news agency that developing  the large-scale airliner is a strategic decision of the Chinese government and one of the major programs for building up an innovation-oriented country.

The C919 will be the largest passenger jet to be produced in China and is expected to eventually challenge other global players in the commercial aircraft market.  Alcoa and COMAC are examining advanced aluminum structural concepts, designs and alloys to create the C919.

 “The C919 will be a showcase for China’s ambition to be more than a low-tech producer of consumer goods for the world,” USA Today reported.  The first C919 is expected to take its first flight in 2014 and enter service in 2016.

We will be satelliting a news package that includes

• Soundbites with Harry Kiskaddon, Director Aerospace , Alcoa
• Wu Guanghui, Designer of the COMAC C919 Airplane
• Video of the C919 prototype on display
• B-roll of Alcoa alloy manufacturing
• General China B-roll 

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